Best of Design 2026: Best New Bathroom

PHOTO BY NORA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY

The bathroom of an Infinity Custom Homes model in Marshall is designed to feel like a spa, blending a soft color palette with bold statement pieces and a soothing treetop view.

Jill Pearsall, design consultant on the project and an in-house designer for Infinity Custom Homes, says the space is an extension of the house’s modern French country design, melding beauty and functionality.  She calls the bathroom “an oasis that is meant to feel natural, warm, elegant and inviting each time you step through the doorway.”

“It is soft and timeless in its aesthetics,” she adds. “The warm tones of the green and ivory palette, complimented by the pops of gold, keep the bathroom both soothing and on-trend.”

Judges in Pittsburgh Magazine’s annual Best of Design contest agreed; the space claimed a win in the Best New Bathroom category. Judges praised its overall equilibrium, highlighting the unique wainscoting around the tub, the glass features in the linen closet and the floating shelves above the bathtub.

“The upper tile has the vertical etching, but at a different scale; it adds layers to the design,” judge Stephanie Schill-Hayden, a Cleveland-based architect at Schill Architecture, says of the tub. “I think it’s a good balance.”

Pearsall says she knew from the start that she wanted the space to be very functional; just as important were a few eye-catching “wow” factors. Among them is the bathroom’s major statement piece: a gold shower door that brings a vintage vibe to the modern build.

It stands out against the otherwise light-and-airy furnishings and delivers on the classic feel cultivated by Pearsall.

“The ultimate goal for this space was a bathroom that could have been designed decades ago or yesterday,” she says.

The design team also looked to nature as a muse. The carefully selected colors, the freestanding dual vanities, the tub and the subtle textures used in the tile and sinks helped create what Pearsall calls “a relaxing space nestled among the treetops,” which can be seen from the windows overlooking the bath.

Vendors

Architectural Design: Paul Eichler
Interior Design: Jill Pearsall
General Contractor: Infinity Custom Homes
Electric: KG Electric
Plumbing: Ryco Plumbing
Cabinetry: Prosource – Medallion
Hardware: Prosource
Appliances: Don’s Appliances
Fixtures: Ferguson
Lighting: Ferguson
Flooring: Paracca Interiors
Countertops: Primo
Windows & Doors: Anderson
Tile: MSI
Glass & Mirrors: Rex Glass
Painting: Deer Creek Painters
Furnishings: RH